Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans
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Hearty, sweet, tangy, and just the right amount of smoky, these Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are the ultimate comfort food side! With simple pantry staples and minimal prep, they’re the kind of crowd-pleaser you’ll make on repeat.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot for Cowboy Beans Recipe
These slow cooker cowboy beans are the ultimate comfort food—easy, hearty, and always a hit at the table.
Cowboy beans are a little sweet, a little savory, and a whole lot of delicious! The ground beef adds heartiness and protein, while pork and beans bring creaminess and texture.
The tangy blend of ketchup, mustard, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce balances perfectly with the brown sugar for a smoky-sweet finish. Best of all, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that comes together with minimal effort.
You can serve these beans as a side dish for burgers, hot dogs, grilled meats, or even eat them as a main course with cornbread. They’re just as at home on a summer picnic table as they are on a winter dinner spread, so make them all year round!
Ingredient Notes for Cowboy Beans
- Ground beef | Use lean ground beef to avoid excess grease.
- Pork and beans | These are the base of the dish. Keeping the sauce helps create a rich, flavorful mix!
- Onions | Cooked with the beef for sweetness and aromatics.
- Apple cider vinegar | Brightens the flavor and cuts the sweetness.
- Yellow mustard | Adds tang and a bit of bite. Classic for barbecue-style dishes.
- Ketchup | Thick, sweet, and tomatoey to enhance the flavor of the sauce.
- Brown sugar | Brings sweetness and a subtle molasses flavor. Light or dark sugar both work.
- Worcestershire sauce | Adds umami and a hint of smokiness.
Variations and Substitutions
- Make it spicy. Add 1 chopped jalapeño, a dash of hot sauce, or ½ tsp chili powder.
- Swap the beef. Use ground turkey, ground pork, or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian option.
- Beans. Swap one can of pork and beans for canned pinto or kidney beans for more texture variety.
- Make it a meal. Stir in cooked rice or serve over baked potatoes for a full meal.
How to Make Cowboy Baked Beans
These cowboy beans come together with almost no effort—just brown the beef, stir everything in, and let your slow cooker do the rest!
BROWN THE BEEF. In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat to a paper-towel lined bowl and set aside.
SAUTE THE ONIONS. Add the diced onions to the skillet with the drippings and cook for 5 minutes, until translucent and soft. Turn off the heat and transfer the meat back to the skillet.
COMBINE WITH REMAINING INGREDIENTS. Gently stir in the pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until combined.
SLOW COOK & ENJOY. Lightly spray the bottom and sides of the slow cooker with cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner (for easy clean-up!). Pour the beans into the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 3 – 4 hours until hot.
More Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Storage: Store any leftover cowboy beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let the beans cool to room temperature before storing.
- Freezing: Freeze in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave in 1-minute bursts, stirring in between, or warm on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of water if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cowboy beans get their name from the hearty, rustic meals traditionally cooked by cowboys over an open fire on cattle drives. These beans were filling, easy to prepare with basic ingredients, and packed with protein—perfect for fueling long days on the range! Those simple roots inspire today’s versions but are often made richer with ground beef, sweet and tangy sauces, and slow-cooked flavor, all while keeping that rugged, satisfying spirit alive.
Not by default, but you can make them spicy by adding hot sauce, red pepper flakes, or chopped jalapeños!
Looking for More Slow Cooker Recipes?
These slow cooker sloppy Joe sandwiches and my slow cooker pork roast are family favorites. I have a yummy slow cooker country style ribs recipe, too!
What to Serve With Cowboy Beans
Slow cooker cowboy beans are a versatile side that pairs beautifully with all your cookout and comfort food favorites!
Serve them alongside grilled turkey burgers or New York hot dogs for a laid-back summer meal, or make them part of a hearty spread with electric smoker ribs or slow cooker shredded beef.
For the perfect balance of savory and sweet, add a slice of Southern cornbread, and round out the plate with a crisp, refreshing no mayo coleslaw. Don’t forget a tall glass of Southern lemon iced tea to wash it all down!
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Cowboy Beans (Slow Cooker or Oven)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. ground beef I use 85/15, or ground round
- 1 ½ cups diced onion
- 2 28 oz. cans pork and beans
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Use a slotted spoon to remove the meat to a paper-towel lined bowl and set aside.
- Add the diced onions to the skillet with the drippings and cook for 5 minutes, until translucent and soft. Turn off the heat and transfer the meat back to the skillet.
- Gently stir in the pork and beans, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until combined.
- Lightly spray the bottom and sides of the slow cooker with cooking spray or use a slow cooker liner (for easy clean-up!). Pour the beans into the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours, or on low for 3 – 4 hours until hot.
Notes
- To bake the beans in the oven: Pour into a lightly greased baking dish and cook for 60 – 90 minutes at 350 degrees, until hot and bubbly.
- Storage: Store any leftover cowboy beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let the beans cool to room temperature before storing.
- Freezing: Freeze in freezer-safe containers or zip-top bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave in 1-minute bursts, stirring in between, or warm on the stovetop over medium-low heat with a splash of water if needed.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
